Medway levels to be lowered for up to five weeks
The River Medway in Tonbridge is set to get a huge spring clean as local organisations join forces for a rubbish removal and maintenance exercise throughout March.
The coordinated effort by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, DEFRA, the Environment Agency and the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP) will focus on the stretch of river between the Leigh Flood Storage Area and Tonbridge Town Lock.
From Monday 11 March the water level will start to lower in Tonbridge as the Environment Agency carries out its annual river draw down. River levels are expected to remain low for up to five weeks. Notice of the works has been shared with river users via therivermedway.co.uk.
The draw down will enable the council to carry out further repairs to parts of the riverbank’s wooden retaining wall between Tonbridge Swimming Pool and the nearby canoe club. In the second phase of works, first started two years ago, rotting timbers will be replaced to help protect the bank from erosion.
With the water levels lowered, two days of rubbish removal have been scheduled for 21 March and 4 April. Previous clean ups have seen a range of items retrieved including glass bottles, scrap metal, supermarket trollies, bikes, chairs and car tyres. The council’s waste services team will provide litter picking equipment and remove and dispose of the items collected.
The council’s cabinet member for the environment and climate change, Cllr Robin Betts said:
'We couldn’t carry out huge operations like this without great partnership working and vital help from specially trained volunteers so I’d like to thank everyone involved. I’ve no doubt this team effort will have a huge positive impact on the environment.’
Nick Dundon, Navigation Team Leader from the Environment Agency said:
‘We draw down the River Medway in sections between locks every winter for our routine annual maintenance inspections. The reduced river levels allow us to safely inspect the river assets at the locks and make any necessary repairs.
‘This is an essential part of managing the navigation, keeping the river safe and clear for boats and other river users to enjoy, and helps reduce flood risk. It also gives us an opportunity to do a river clearance which will benefit people and wildlife.’
From 15 – 31 March the Great British Spring Clean will take place where residents and community groups in Tonbridge and Malling can sign up to organise a litter pick of their own or take part in one organised in their neighbourhood. To find out more, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org